Johannesburg 23 August 2021 – Retail, telecommunications and technology holding company DNI Group, which owns a number of high-quality businesses in South Africa such as M4Jam and Paymenow (view subsidiaries), has donated R1 million to The Sharks’ Hands of Hope campaign. This funding will help rebuild damaged KwaZulu-Natal infrastructure in the wake of recent looting and violence.
The Sharks, in conjunction with “The Beast Foundation” and “The Kolisi Foundation”, are coordinating the upliftment of communities and individuals in a three-phased approach to create hope and sustainability after looting destroyed livelihoods across the province.
Some of the initiatives underway through Hands of Hope include a feeding programme, whereby up to 1,000 people will be fed for ten days either at Jonsson Kings Park stadium or at a shelter/community facility. The Sharks will also facilitate the rebuilding of shops, small businesses and community facilities in affected communities. In addition, they will also help with the distribution of essential foods to communities in dire need of assistance.
“It is incredible to see some of rugby’s biggest stars stepping in to help the communities for whom they have become heroes. Both foundations of Tendari Mtawarira (”The Beast”) and Siya Kolisi are actively involved in coordinating swift and effective action in the areas that need help the most,” says Andrew Dunn, CEO of DNI Group.
“As a proudly South African company, we are happy to be led by these two legends and to play our part in reducing the devastating impact of these events for which nobody had planned. Many South Africans have lost jobs, livelihoods and possessions that they simply cannot replace and this is why the Sharks Hands of Hope campaign is necessary,” says Dunn.
The Sharks CEO, Dr Eduard Coetzee added: “Thank you to the DNI Group for their generous contribution to our #handsofhope campaign, which is focussed on creating hope and sustainability in our province, after the devastating effects of the civil unrest.
We, as South Africans can achieve much more if we join hands and work together and through this contribution and those of other corporates, we will be able to roll out an effective plan that will reach as many communities as possible,”
“We call on all our corporate peers to join this campaign. Interested companies can obtain more information from relief@thesharks.co.za or by visiting https://sharksrugby.co.za/hands-of-hope” he adds.
